Oh dear, Google hasn’t submitted a Google Maps app to Apple yet

In a statement that’s sure to elicit sighs of disappointment from many iPhone users, Google’s Eric Schmidt has told reporters that the company has not submitted a standalone Google Maps app to Apple for approval, despite rumors to the contrary.

Various sources indicated an iOS version of Google Maps was on its way, with The Guardian saying “a Google Maps app is being prepared for iOS 6, which will appear in time,” to Google themselves telling SearchEngineLand.com that its goal was to “make Google Maps available to everyone who wants to use it, regardless of device, browser or operating system.”

Schmidt was questioned over the situation during an event in Japan, where he was busy promoting the local launch of the Nexus 7 tablet, and replied “we haven’t done anything yet” when asked whether Apple was likely to accept a Google Maps app into the App Store.

He added “We think it would have been better if they had kept ours. But what do I know?” Later, as he demonstrated Google Maps on the Nexus 7, he quipped “take that Apple” while showing off the app’s capabilities. It appears The Guardian was right when it said Google was enjoying Apple’s suffering at the hands of the press and the public.

Naturally, Apple is defending its new Maps software, saying it’s “just getting started,” and welcomes all feedback in an effort to implement improvements as quickly as possible.